Power nailing machine



July 10, 1962 L. FROSTAD 3,042,924

POWER NAILING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LARs FROSTAD BY 9. M

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United States Patent 3,842,924 POWER NAILING MACHINE Lars Frosted, Camillus, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Porter-Cable Machine Company, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 798,900 6 Claims. (Cl. 1-46) This invention relates to portable, power-operated, nailing machines, and has as an object a nailing machine embodying a structural arrangement which is economical to build and assemble and which functions to efliciently and rapidly drive nails.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a nailer embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on line 33, FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on a line corresponding to line 44, FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the throat plate secured to the forward end of the magazine.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken on line 6-6, FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a View taken on line 7-7, FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the throat plate.

FIGURE 9 is a view taken on line 99, FIGURE 2.

The machine comprises a housing having a front section 10 and a rear section 11, these sections being secured together by screws 12. The front section 10 is formed with a depending portion 13 in which is slidably mounted a plunger, or ram 15, preferably of rectangular form in cross section, and having a circular bore in which is slidably mounted a head 16 having a stem 17 extending through an aperture formed in a partition 18 in the bore of the plunger 15. A spring is interposed between the head 16 and the partition 18, and likewise between the under side of the partition and a nut 20 threaded on the lower end of the stem. As here shown, these springs consist of a series of dish-shaped Washers 22 formed of spring metal after the fashion of Belleville spring washend of the shaft 27 and is arranged in mesh with a pinion 37 formed on the end of the. armature shaft 38 of motor 39, mounted in the rear section 11 of the housing. With this arrangement, vertical reciprocation of the plunger is effected. The shaft 27 is also provided with eccentrics 40 on which are mounted connecting rods 41 connected to a counterweight 42 to efiect reciprocation thereof in the portion 10 of the housing. The weight acts as a counterbalance for the plunger 15.

The nail magazine 50 consists of a pair of mating members 51, 52, secured together as by screws 53. The confronting surfaces of the members 51, 52, are formed with lengthwise extending grooves to provide ribs 56, 57, having their inner edges spaced apart to form a guideway to receive a row of nails 58 which, as here shown, are of the type having a T-head, the heads of the nails being "Ice supported by the upper ribs 59. The nails are inserted in the magazine through an opening 61 at the rear end of the magazine. The nails are advanced along the ribs 59 by a pusher 62 through an opening 63 at the forward end of the magazine.

A throat plate 64 is afiixed to the forward end of the magazine sections 51, 52, by screws 65, which extend through apertures 66 in the plate and thread into the ends of the magazine sections. The outer face of the plate 64 is formed with a vertically extending groove 73' forming a nail discharge passage. The plate is also formed with a vertically extending aperture 74, the top wall 75 of which terminates slightly above the heads of the nails 58 in the magazine. The aperture 74 is arranged in registration with the grooves 73, and with the aperture 63 formed between the confronting edges of inwardly extending flanges 77 formed on the sections 51, 52, of the magazine, whereby the row of nails 58 may be advanced forwardly with the foremost or leading nail abutting against a bar 78, mounted on the outer surface of the throat plate 64, the screws 65 passing through the bar 78 and the plate 64 to secure the assembly to the magazine.

The bar 78 extends upwardly into the depending section 13 of the frame section 10', and is slidably mounted therein so that relative vertical movement can be effected between the housing and the magazine. The upper end of the bar 78 is attached to a block 86 by screws 81. The block is apertured to receive rods 82, the lower and upper ends of which are positioned in transversely extending bosses 83, 84, formed on the inner surface of the cap 32, see FIGURE 2. A compression spring 86 is mounted on each of the rods 82, the springs acting against the upper bosses 84 and the block to yieldingly urge the housing and magazine in separated positon, as shown in FIGURE 2.

A nail driving blade 90 is secured to the plunger 15. When the magazine is spaced farthest from the housing, that is, the magazine is in its down position, as shown in FIGURE 2, the lower end of the driving blade is positioned in the passage 73 above the aperture 74. This blade is rectangular in cross section and formed at its up per end with a circular portion 91 mounted in a circular recess formed in the outer surface of the plunger 15. The plunger is formed with a groove 92 extending downwardly from the circular recess to receive the shank of the driver. This groove 92 is slightly wider than the blade to permit the same to have some floating action for proper alignment in driving a nail through the passage 73.

The pusher 62 is in the form of a flat plate or blade mounted for sliding movement between the confronting edges of the ribs 56, 57. A roller 95 is journalled on a boss 96 formed in the side member 52 of the magazine at the forward end thereof. A tension spring extends lengthwise below the rib 57 in the member 52 and is fixedly secured at the rear portion of the magazine. The spring extends about the sleeve 95 and the upper run 98 of the spring is attached to a laterally extending portion 99 formed on the rear end of the pusher 62. This portion 99 extends laterally over the rib 56 in the side member 52 and outwardly through a slot 100 formed in that member. The spring 98 functions to advance the pusher 62 against the row of nails 58 and advance the nails forwardly so that the foremost nail is positioned in the discharge passage 73 and against the bar 78. The laterally extending portion 99' of the pusher forms a convenient handle for returning the pusher against the action of the spring to the rear end of the magazine. The bottom wall of the slot 100 has a lowered portion 191 at the rear end of the magazine and the rib 56 is formed with a notch 103 whereby when the pusher is returned to the rear end of the magazine, as shown'in dotted lines PI"- 3 URE 4, it is moved laterally out of the nail passage and the handle 99 is depressed into the low portion 151 of the groove, whereby the pusher is temporarily held at one side of the nail passage to permit insertion of a new row of nails.

The outer face of the throat plate 64, see FIGURE 8, is formed with grooves 195 inclining upwardly and outwardly from the passage '73, This outer surface of the throat plate is also relieved from the grooves 135 downwardly along each side edge,as at 106, to thereby form rib portions 168 extending vertically at each side of the discharge passage 73.

The throat plate 64 is formed in this manner to pro vide for retaining members which function to yieldingly retain the foremost nail positioned in the discharge passage so that it will not drop out of the machine by gravity. A U-shaped spring member is employed for this temporary retention of the nail. The leg portions 11%, see FIG- URE 5, are positioned in the relieved area 1% of the throat plate, and the upper ends 111 are bent inwardly and downwardly, and are positioned in the inclined grooves 105'. The bight portion 112 of the Spring is positioned below the lower end of the discharge passage and the legs of the spring member are bent so that the bight portion 112 extends forwardly of the passage 73.

With this arrangement, when the nailing machine is positioned upon a. work piece to be nailed, the work piece is contacted by the bight portion 112 of the spring member, causing the spring member to move upwardly, the leg portions being retained in the throat plate by the overlying magazine support plate 78, see FIGURE 4. As the spring member is moved upwardly, the inclined end portions 111' engage the inclined top walls 113 of the grooves 105, causing the upper end portions of the springs to be oammed laterally outwardly from the passage 73.

The location of the retaining spring is such that the bent end portions 111 are positioned somewhat below the ribs 59 forming the nail supporting channel, whereby the foremost nail when moved into the passage 73 descends until the head portion of the nail is engaged by the ends 111. When the retaining member is moved upwardly and p the ends 111 carnmed outwardly, as explained above, the nail is released for descent through the passage. However, -at this time, the bottom angular portion 114 of the throat plate is positioned firmly against the work piece.

The machine is provided with a handle 12% secured at the rear end to the motor section 11 of the housing, and at its front end to an upwardly projecting portion 121 oi the cap 32. A motor control switch is mounted in the handle and is operated by the actuator 122 to control the power to the motor from the supply chord 123.

In operation, the angular portion 114 of the throat plate 64 is placed upon the work piece, such as a fioorboard. The weight of the machine causes the spring nail retaining member to be moved upwardly to release the foremost nail positioned in the discharge passage '73. The

switch actuator 122 is operated and the housing moved downwardly toward the magazine.

This effects downward movement of the reciprocating nail driving blade 20 so that the lower end of the blade contacts the head of the nail in the discharge passage and drives the nail downwardly in the passage into the workpiece. When the nail is completely driven, the housing is raised to move the blader9tlout of the discharge passage 73, permitting the next nail to be moved into the passage by the action of the pusher 62. i

What I claim is: V

1. A nailing machine, a magazine for containing a supply of nails, a throat plate at one end of the magazine and having a nail discharge passage, means for advancing nails from said magazine to said passage, a nail driver mounted for reciprocation in said passage for driving a nailtherefrom into a work piece, yieldable members carried by said plate on opposite sides of said p'assage and being normally positioned for engagement by the head of a nail to prevent descent thereof by gravity in said passage, and means operable to move said members out of nail engaging position upon positioning said magazine on a work piece.

2. A nailing machine, a magazine, a nail discharge passage at one end of the magazine, means for advancing nails from the magazine into said passage, a U-shaped spring member positioned with its leg portions extending upwardly along each side of said passage, the upper ends of said leg portions being bent inwardly and extending into said discharge passage for engagement by the head of a nail, cam means for moving the upper ends of said member laterally from said passage upon upward movement of said U-shaped member.

3. A nailing machine, a magazine having an elongated guideway for containing a row ofnails, a discharge passage at one end of said magazine and means for advancing the nails from the magazine into said passage, a U-shaped spring member positioned with its leg portions extending upwardly along each side of said passage, the upper ends of said leg portions being bent inwardly and extending into said passage for engagement by the head of a nail to prevent descent of the nail by gravity through said'passage, the bight portion of said U-shaped member being positioned below the lower end of said passage for engagement by a work piece, cam surfaces cooperable with the upper ends of said U-shaped member for moving the same outwardly from said passage upon engagement of the bight portion of said member with a work piece.

4. A nailing machine, a magazine for containing a supply of nails, a plate attached to one end of said magazine and having an edge adapted to be positioned on a work piece, said plate'being formed with a nail discharge passage opening through said edge; means for successively advancing nails from said magazine into said discharge passage, nail retaining members carried by said plate on opposite sides of saiddischarge passage and having nail engaging portions extending into said passage for engagement by a nail to prevent descent of the nail by gravity through the passage, said plate being also formed with cam means cooperable to move said nail retaining members out of said passage upon'positioning said edge of the plate on a work piece.

5. A nailing machine, a magazine for containing a row of nails with the nails arranged in side by side abutting relation, a plate affixed to one end of the magazine and being formed with a nail discharge passage opening through one edge of the plate, means operable to position the foremost nail in said row in said passage, nail retaining means carried by said plate and movable into and out of said passage, said retaining means being operable when positioned in said passageto prevent descent of a nail 1 through said passage by gravity, said nail retaining means having a part extending below said edge of said plate when said nail retaining means is positioned in said discharge passage, said part being cooperable when said plate is positioned on a work piece to move said retaining means out of said passage.

6. A portable, power-operated, hand-manipulated nailing machine, a magazine having an elongated guideway adapted toreceive a row of nails, a plate fixed to one end of said magazine and being formed with a nail discharge passage disposed normal to the axis of said magazine, means yieldingly urging said row of nails toward said plate and positioning the foremost nail of the row in said discharge passage, nail retaining members carried by said plate at opposite sides of said discharge passage, means yieldingly urging said members in said passage for engagement by a nail to prevent descent of the nail in said passage by gravity, said plate being formed with cam surfaces cooperable, upon positioning of said magazine on a work piece into which nails are to be driven, to move said retaining members out of said passage to permit descent of a nail through the passage, and a nail driver mov- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pope June 18, 1929 Day Apr. 20, 1937 Spiller Apr. 9, 1946 6 Anstett Nov. 4, 1947 Granfield Nov. 25, 1952 Bygbjeng June 9, 1953 True Feb. 14, 1956 Osborne Dec. 25, 1956 Freeman Dec. 30, 1958 Lawler Apr. 5, 1960 

